Match Report
by Alan Evans
The Woods cruised to a comfortable
victory in this FA Trophy fixture and should have won by a much-more
convincing scoreline.
Manager Colin Payne was forced into
ringing s few changes, with Lee Holland starting his first game of the
season, and Otis Williams made his full debut while Mark Burgess,
newly recruited from Boreham Wood, also made his first appearance in
place of the injured Bradley Hewitt. Rob Ursell was ruled out with a
back injury while Ryan Tackley was unavailable.
The visitors were on a great run of form,
which included an FA Cup replay victory over Conference South side
Welling United on Wednesday evening but they were missing their
regular strike pairing of Denva McKenzie and Paul Scott.
The Woods took command from an early
stage with Otis Williams going close in the first minute and then
should have taken the lead in the ninth minute. Sean Sonner flicked a
header on to Michael Gordon, who burst into the box and squared to
Abdul Yoki, but the winger saw his effort saved by goalkeeper Robert
Tolfrey who spread himself well to block at close range.
Three minutes later, Whyteleafe responded
with Robert Smith running onto a long ball from Ali Reeve and firing a
snap shot into the near post, which Mitch Swain blocked well. From the
resulting corner, Nicky Greene swept a shot well over and Northwood
then took control once again.
The opening goal came after 21 minutes as
a defensive error allowed Yoki to run towards goal. He rode through
two challenges and the ball ran loose towards Otis Williams, who
coolly finished with a crisp strike which gave Tolfrey no chance.
Just a minute later, good work by Sonner
saw him cross to John Christian who looked sure to sweep the ball home
but somehow steered his shot wide of the post. Two minutes later a
ball from Burgess put Sonner through one-on-one with Tolfrey, but the
‘keeper again did well to block at his feet.
The Woods had become profligate and Leafe
almost made them pay on the half-hour. Firstly, a long throw by
Richard Harris was met by the head of Greene but straight at the
‘keeper and then Greene charged down a Holland clearance and set up
Ronnie Green for a shot but Swain was equal to it again.
It was only a brief respite for the
visitors as the Woods stormed forward again, with Otis Williams
turning creator, getting past his marker and setting up Sonner, who
sliced his shot wide of the target. After 34 minutes a Danny Murphy
free-kick found Sonner again and his quick turn and shot flashed only
just wide.
There were just seconds to go to
half-time when Murphy’s attempted block of a Whyteleafe shot diverted
the ball past his own ‘keeper, but Swain did well to quickly change
direction and grab the ball a yard from the goal-line.
It was much the same after the break,
with Northwood still looking the more dangerous and likely to score.
Otis Williams ran onto a Dwane Williams pass after 51 minutes but
pulled his shot wide of the target and the ex-Rochdale reserve player
was looking very sharp up front.
Murphy picked up a knee injury which saw
the introduction of young Danny Power after 67 minutes, and five
minutes later he came close to his first senior goal, latching onto a
Yoki corner with a far post strike which flashed just over the bar.
The Woods knew they needed a second goal
to be sure of an important and financial valuable victory and they
kept pressing forward. The pacey Gordon was next to go close, pushing
the ball through and outstripping the defence but then rolling his
shot wide of the post.
It was after 81 minutes that Northwood
got their reward, and it was that man Otis Williams who became the
hero once again as more sloppy defensive work saw him catch Adam
Broomhead napping and race into the box to fire a shot into the top
corner.
It could have got even better for him as
well, as four minutes later he latched onto a Dwane Williams flick-on
to a Sonner throw only to see his shot come back off the post, then in
stoppage-time he headed a Power cross just over the bar before firing
against the post again when set up by the hard-working Sonner.
The victory earns Northwood a trip to
another Ryman Division One South side, Crowborough Athletic in the
next round. The Sussex side were promoted last season and while they
are struggling in the league, they have enjoyed an excellent run in
the FA Cup, and are due to play away at Harlow Town in the Third
Qualifying Round next Saturday. They beat Eastbourne Town 3-0 in the
FA Trophy.
PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Photos: James Brown |
